Kainic acid and 1'-hydroxykainic acid from Palmariales

Possible Biosynthetic Products and Metabolites of Kainic Acid from the Red Alga Digenea simplex and Their Biological Activity

Four kainic acid (KA, 1)-related compounds, 4-hydroxykainic acid (2), allo-4-hydroxykainic acid (3), N-dimethylallyl-l-glutamic acid (4), and N-dimethylallyl- threo-3-hydroxyglutamic acid (5), were isolated from the red alga Digenea simplex. The structures of these compounds were elucidated using spectroscopic methods. Compounds 2 and 3 are possible oxidative metabolites of KA and allo-KA (6), respectively. Compound 4 was recently reported as the biosynthetic precursor of KA, but the absolute configuration of 4 has not been previously determined. Herein, we determined the absolute configuration of 4 as 2( S) using advanced Marfey's method. Compound 5 is similar to N-geranyl-3( R)-hydroxy-l-glutamic acid (8), which was previously identified in a domoic acid (DA)-containing red alga. Compounds 5 and 8 are predicted to be biosynthetic byproducts of the radical-mediated cyclization reaction to form the pyrrolidine rings of KA and DA, respectively. Furthermore, the toxicities of 1-5 in mice were examined by intracerebroventricular injection. The toxicity of 2 was less than that of KA; however, the mice injected with 2 showed symptoms similar to those induced by KA, while 3-5 did not induce typical symptoms of KA in mice.

Scalable Biosynthesis of the Seaweed Neurochemical, Kainic Acid

Kainic acid, the flagship member of the kainoid family of natural neurochemicals, is a widely used neuropharmacological agent that helped unravel the key role of ionotropic glutamate receptors, including the kainate receptor, in the central nervous system. Worldwide shortages of this seaweed natural product in the year 2000 prompted numerous chemical syntheses, including scalable preparations with as few as six-steps. Herein we report the discovery and characterization of the concise two-enzyme biosynthetic pathway to kainic acid from l-glutamic acid and dimethylallyl pyrophosphate in red macroalgae and show that the biosynthetic genes are co-clustered in genomes of Digenea simplex and Palmaria palmata. Moreover, we applied a key biosynthetic α-ketoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase enzyme in a biotransformation methodology to efficiently construct kainic acid on the gram scale. This study establishes both the feasibility of mining seaweed genomes for their biotechnological prowess.

An Updated Review on Marine Anticancer Compounds: The Use of Virtual Screening for the Discovery of Small-Molecule Cancer Drugs

Marine secondary metabolites are a promising source of unexploited drugs that have a wide structural diversity and have shown a variety of biological activities. These compounds are produced in response to the harsh and competitive conditions that occur in the marine environment. Invertebrates are considered to be among the groups with the richest biodiversity. To date, a significant number of marine natural products (MNPs) have been established as antineoplastic drugs. This review gives an overview of MNPs, both in research or clinical stages, from diverse organisms that were reported as being active or potentially active in cancer treatment in the past seventeen years (from January 2000 until April 2017) and describes their putative mechanisms of action. The structural diversity of MNPs is also highlighted and compared with the small-molecule anticancer drugs in clinical use. In addition, this review examines the use of virtual screening for MNP-based drug discovery and reveals that classical approaches for the selection of drug candidates based on ADMET (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity) filtering may miss potential anticancer lead compounds. Finally, we introduce a novel and publically accessible chemical library of MNPs for virtual screening purposes.

Algae as nutritional and functional food sources: revisiting our understanding

Global demand for macroalgal and microalgal foods is growing, and algae are increasingly being consumed for functional benefits beyond the traditional considerations of nutrition and health. There is substantial evidence for the health benefits of algal-derived food products, but there remain considerable challenges in quantifying these benefits, as well as possible adverse effects. First, there is a limited understanding of nutritional composition across algal species, geographical regions, and seasons, all of which can substantially affect their dietary value. The second issue is quantifying which fractions of algal foods are bioavailable to humans, and which factors influence how food constituents are released, ranging from food preparation through genetic differentiation in the gut microbiome. Third is understanding how algal nutritional and functional constituents interact in human metabolism. Superimposed considerations are the effects of harvesting, storage, and food processing techniques that can dramatically influence the potential nutritive value of algal-derived foods. We highlight this rapidly advancing area of algal science with a particular focus on the key research required to assess better the health benefits of an alga or algal product. There are rich opportunities for phycologists in this emerging field, requiring exciting new experimental and collaborative approaches.

Polar lipids from the marine macroalga Palmaria palmata inhibit lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide production in RAW264.7 macrophage cells

The EtOAc soluble fraction of a MeOH/CHCl3 extract of Palmaria palmata showed strong nitric oxide (NO) inhibitory activity against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced NO production in murine RAW264.7 cells. NO inhibition-guided isolation led to identification of three new polar lipids including a sulfoquinovosyl diacylglycerol (SQDG) (2S)-1-O-eicosapentaenoyl-2-O-myristoyl-3-O-(6-sulfo-α-D-quinovopyranosyl)-glycerol (1) and two phosphatidylglycerols, 1-O-eicosapentaenoyl-2-O-trans-3-hexadecenoyl-3-phospho-(1'-glycerol)-glycerol (3) and 1-O-eicosapentaenoyl-2-O-palmitoyl-3-phospho-(1'-glycerol)-glycerol (4) from the EtOAc fraction. Seven known lipids were also isolated including a SQDG (2), a phospholipid (5) and five galactolipids (6-10). Structures of the isolated lipids were elucidated by spectral analyses. The isolated SQDGs, phosphatidylglycerols and phospholipid possessed strong and dose-dependent NO inhibitory activity compared to N(G)-methyl-L-arginine acetate salt (L-NMMA), a well-known NO inhibitor used as a positive control. Further study suggested that these polar lipids suppressed NO production through down-regulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS).

Ligands for ionotropic glutamate receptors

Marine-derived small molecules and peptides have played a central role in elaborating pharmacological specificities and neuronal functions of mammalian ionotropic glutamate receptors (iGluRs), the primary mediators of excitatory synaptic transmission in the central nervous system (CNS). As well, the pathological sequelae elicited by one class of compounds (the kainoids) constitute a widely-used animal model for human mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (mTLE). New and existing molecules could prove useful as lead compounds for the development of therapeutics for neuropathologies that have aberrant glutamatergic signaling as a central component. In this chapter we discuss natural source origins and pharmacological activities of those marine compounds that target ionotropic glutamate receptors.

Nonprotein amino acids of plants: significance in medicine, nutrition, and agriculture

Those nonprotein amino acids found in food and fodder plants and known to be toxic to man and domestic animals are described. These include toxins from many legume genera including Lathyrus, from other higher plant families, from seaweeds, and from fungi. Some inhibit protein synthesis, while others are incorporated into proteins with toxic effects. Basic processes such as urea synthesis and neurotransmission may be disrupted. The probable roles of nonprotein amino acids in protecting plants against predators, pathogens, and competing plant species are considered. The need to learn more of the nutritive value of nontoxic nonprotein amino acids and to explore the potential of others either as drugs or as leads to drugs in human and veterinary medicine is emphasized.